Excessive heat warning until 8 p.m.; Possibility of severe thunderstorms Thursday evening

It’s looking steamy at midday, and our temperatures will rise several more degrees as we move into Thursday afternoon.

Many locations will see highs in the upper 90s with dew points in the upper 70s Thursday afternoon. Heat index values ​​will be over 100 degrees.

The National Weather Service has posted an excessive heat warning covering much of southern Minnesota and the entire Twin Cities metro area until 8 p.m.

Areas shaded orange are under a heat warning.

Here are details of the extreme heat warning that includes the Twin Cities metro area:

BREAKING – WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 904 AM CDT Thursday, July 27, 2023 MNZ060>063-067>070-075-076-083-272215- /O.CON.KMPX.EH.W.0001.230727T1700Z-230728T0100 g//O.CON.KMPX.HT.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-230727T1700Z/ Hennepin-Anoka-Rmsey-Washington-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Ncollet-Le Sueur-Blue Earth- including the cities of Minneapolis, Blaine, and St. Paul , Stillwater, Gaylord, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings, St Peter, Le Sueur, and Mankato 904 AM CST Thursday, July 27, 2023 … A heat warning remains in effect until noon CST today… . …Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect from noon today until 8 PM CST this evening… *What… Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values ​​up to 108 expected. * Where… Mankato to Twin Cities metro areas. * When… Regarding the heat advisory, until noon CST today. For an Excessive Heat Advisory, from noon today until 8 PM CST this evening. * Effects… Extreme heat and humidity will greatly increase the likelihood of heat-related illness, especially for those who work or participate in outdoor activities. Precautionary/precautionary measures… Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors. Small children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities for the early morning or evening. Learn about the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight, loose clothing when possible. To reduce risks while working outdoors, OSHA recommends scheduling frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone with a fever should be moved to a cool, shaded place. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 911.

Chances of thundery rain and severe weather will increase later Thursday

Parts of northern Minnesota saw scattered showers around midday, and there were a few isolated thunderstorms in northwestern Wisconsin, moving east.

The heat and humidity will provide plenty of fuel for additional thunderstorms in Minnesota and Wisconsin later this afternoon and evening. Some areas will see severe weather.

The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center shows an increased risk of severe weather Thursday afternoon and evening in parts of east-central and northeastern Minnesota, as well as northwestern Wisconsin:

The increased risk means the possibility of many severe thunderstorms. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible in the yellow shaded area, which includes the Twin Cities metro as well as much of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Here are the severe hazard categories used by the NWS Storm Prediction Center:

Be aware of the weather from late afternoon through this evening.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News Network. You can check the NWS radar’s MPR view here.

You can also check these National Weather Service websites for updated weather information: Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, SD and Grand Forks, ND

Calm weather this weekend

A high pressure system will bring us drier and cooler weather this weekend.

Highs on Saturday will be in the 70s across the northern third of Minnesota and parts of northwest Wisconsin, with 80s elsewhere:

Highs Sunday will be mainly in the 80s, with 70s in far northern Minnesota:

Mainly dry this weekend

Most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will see a dry weekend.

Stray rain is possible in southwestern Minnesota Saturday morning, and passing rain is possible in parts of northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin later Saturday.

NOAA’s North American Average Scale (NAM) forecast model shows the likely rain pattern from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday:

Check forecast updates.

Programming note

You can hear live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35am, 9:35am and 4:39pm every Saturday and Sunday.